Arab states call on Hamas to disarm and relinquish power in unprecedented move
By: Nadeen Ebrahim (CNN)
Saudi Arabia has chosen a side. That's a significant realignment within Middle Eastern geopolitics. Now Saudi Arabia needs to join the Abraham accords and show good faith toward ensuring security for Israel. Benjamin Netanyahu's intransigence is understandable but Arab states condemning Hamas and offering security guarantees means this time really is different.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Arab and Muslim states including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt have for the first time issued a joint call for Hamas to disarm and relinquish power in the Gaza Strip as part of efforts to end the war in the territory.
The 22-member Arab League, the entire European Union and another 17 countries backed a declaration signed at a United Nations conference co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and France on Tuesday.
The meeting in New York aimed to address “the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the implementation of the Two-State Solution,” and the declaration lays out what steps the signatories think should be taken next.
“Governance, law enforcement and security across all Palestinian territory must lie solely with the Palestinian Authority, with appropriate international support,” the joint document read, adding that “in the context of ending the war in Gaza, Hamas must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, with international engagement and support, in line with the objective of a sovereign and independent Palestinian State.”
The text also condemned the deadly October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel, and proposed the deployment of “a temporary international stabilization mission” upon invitation by the PA and “under the aegis of the United Nations.”
“We welcomed the readiness expressed by some Member States to contribute in troops,” it said.
France, who co-chaired the conference, called the declaration “unprecedented.”
Speaking at the UN Tuesday, Jean-Noël Barrot, the French foreign minister, said that “on the part of Saudi Arabia and the Arab and Muslim countries who for the first time will condemn terrorism, the acts of terror on the 7th of October, a call for the disarmament of Hamas and expressed their hope to have a normalized relationship with Israel in due time.”
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum commended the declaration, saying: “We welcome this important progress and the Arab League’s recognition that Hamas must end its rule in Gaza. Kidnapping innocent men, women, and children is a blatant violation of international law and must be unequivocally condemned.”
Both mediators in ceasefire negotiations, Qatar and Egypt have maintained ties with Hamas and Israel throughout the war.
In March, a plan for Gaza formulated by Egypt excluded Hamas from governance of the enclave once the war ends, a draft of the plan obtained by CNN showed.
The plan was discussed by Arab leaders meeting in Cairo in an emergency summit, with Egypt’s president proposing a Palestinian committee to temporarily govern Gaza – taking over from Hamas and eventually handing power to the Palestinian Authority (PA).
Saudi Arabia has repeatedly pushed for a revival of the two-state solution.
France has said it will vote to recognize a Palestinian state in September, to Israel’s dismay. The United Kingdom also said it will recognize a Palestinian state in September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza. Both Israel and the United States condemned France and Britain’s statements.
Hamas has, however, shown no signs of relinquishing power in the enclave, yet officials within the militant group have in the past given contradictory statements about the movement’s role in a post-war Gaza.
Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, vehemently opposes the two-state solution, arguing that it is incompatible with his country’s security.
This story has been updated with additional developments.
CNN’s Becky Anderson contributed reporting.
Tags
Who is online
182 visitors
A two state solution will never work without security guarantees for Israel from the Arab states. Defanging Iran may have finally broken the impasse.
I believe that has been an instrumental part of bringing the Arab nations together to stabilize the region.
Unfortunately the defanging of Iran still left it with some teeth.
LINK -> Canada, allies warn Iran working to ‘kill, kidnap and harass’ people abroad - National | Globalnews.ca
As long as Iran’s (theocratic) government remains in power they will be a danger to other countries in the area— and in fact to several countries around the world!
(But its overthrow won’t come from outside forces— in order to succeed it must come from the people of Iran themselves. They’ve tried before but they are were brutally punished. IMO the people will eventually succeed, and bring true democracy to their country).
From your lips to God's ears.
For more information about a major Persian (“Iranian”) attempt to overthrow their totalitarian government, Google Iranian Green Movement 2009. (or use whatever search engine you prefer).
Given the history Hamas has against the 2 state solution it's going to take a concerted effort by all participants to ensure it stays in place.
Established Muslim busing states more rational than up and coming ones like France and Great Britain isn’t too surprising
There's no quick and easy solution to the Arab-Israel conflict.
But this one seems like it may have a chance . . .
For starters, it has two of the Arab "heavy-weights" behind it (Saudi Arabia and Egypt).
For some time the Saudis felt safe and secure because of their vast oil riches. But fairly recently some of the wiser ones realized that some day their oil would run out-- so they've been looking for economic alternatives. And the Israelis are known for their entrepreneurial spirit.
In addition, there's a big split in the Muslim world-- between the Shia branch of Islam (for example Iran) and the Sunni branch (Saudi and most of the Gulf states). Iran and the Saudis are actually enemies.
Re: Egypt— they are one of two countries bordering Gaza. On more than one occasion Hamas crazies from Gaza have crossed into Egypt & attacked Egyptians.
The reason Israel wants to patrol the Philadelphi Corridor is because Hamas appears to have been able to smuggle arms and military supplies from Egypt.
There's always been a lot of news stories about Hamas' many tunnel within Gaza-- but there are also tunnels that connect Gaza with Egypt :
Thanks, I wasn't aware of that.
Actually for a long time Hamas was using the tunnels to Egypt mainly to smuggle in weapons. mostly rockts and parts to make them.
Also: at one point Egypt wanted to shut down those tunnels. They finally flooded them! Several Palesrinians in the those tunnels at the time were.killed!...
It was a while back so I had forgotten all the details. I just googled it-- this article is from 2015!
Reuters
Egyptian flooding drowns Gaza's tunnel business
I am all in and excited for Hamas to disappear and let the Palestinian people choose LIFE over destruction, bombs, and death. That said, I will remind-all-what biblical prophecy "promises" that an agreement will be made in the Middle East for peace at some time (or another who knows when and where). . . and it shall be broken in its 'middle' thereabouts. . .leading to an 'ultimate' war between the countries there.
All that written, I would accept PEACE and extended quiet from that area of the world when it allows the children to be fed and have a proper future without continuing and 'everlasting' destruction, bombings, and death!
So much for those who like to lie when they imply "all" liberals want Israel destroyed and possibly have Palestinians as their overlords. Liberals want peace (and quiet) and proper growth and development. BTW, so should all the citizens of the United States! After-all, the United States would not like (or be open one iota) another 'anybody' country to tell them when to 'jump' and how high! (So don't arrogantly suggest that another country should 'hoop jump' for our benefit.
But what about the vast majority of Gazans who take direction from The Holy Koran and not the from the Bible?
You mean where it commands the Muslims to find and kill the Jews, which is likely why their Imams preach to them that The Day of Judgment will not come until the Muslims fight and kill the Jews. Probably that, and the fact that the Hamas militants will be able to enjoy their 72 virgins while they sojourn forever in the Garden of Allah should they be killed fighting the Jews.
Which I believe is why they will never surrender, but will continue fighting to the last militant standing, and they don't give a shit how many civilians they use as human shields should die.
What would you like me to say about it? That the two peoples are setting up their own apocalypse? That the mentioning of the Muslims after I point out the Bible similarly prophesizes its own 'ultimate solution' of sorts in the Middle East is an 'about-ism'?
Let me be real clear here. I am not a Muslim. I don't give two-'bodily air explosions' about Hamas or any group of Muslims. I am a Christian, and that has been under constant and close reflection since I realized that the Middle East is 'ridiculous' when it comes to getting to Peace, and evangelical Christians are actively 'championing' the death of innocents in faraway lands.
Here is the Jewish 'expression' of the 'End':
So, the 'region' has a written destiny of utter destruction from on "High" Promised by prophets.
FIRE AND BRIMSTONE!!! Whoever wrote the bible deserves a Pulitzer Prize.
They should make a movie out of it!
Parts of it have been adapted.
Should!!!
I agree-- they all "should"!
Don't hold your breath!
What on earth gives you the idea that they want that?
Don't believe me? Ask the Egyptians.
Or the Jordanians (after what the Palestinians did to the Jordanians during "Black September".
The "Palestinians" have had numerous offers for their own state--Israel accepted, the Palestinians turned them down.
And peace? They've not only murdered many Jews-- they've murdered a lot of Arabs!
Only a fool would prefer to CHOOSE destruction, bombs, and death.
It would seem to the casual observer that the Palestinians have no desire for a state, but still support Hamas, who won't surrender or release any hostages. In fact, they just keep doubling down on depravity.
In fact. Germany and Japan had to be pounded into submission at the cost of millions of innocent civilians. Hamas has to be reduced to so few militants that the various factions and tribes will take the reins of power.... heaven only knows where that will lead.
Hamas Kicks Sand in the Face of Its Eurotrash Supporters, Releases Grotesque Video of Hostage – RedState